CELTIC, Central Europe. Boii. 2nd century BC. 1/8 Stater (Gold, 8 mm, 1.03 g, 1 h), early Athena-Alkis-series. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet. Rev. Athena Alkis standing left, brandishing spear with her right hand and holding shield with her left; to lower left, N; to right, • / Π / X • / Σ. Dembski 496. Flesche 428. Lanz 33 (same dies). LT 9492. Paulsen 115. Very fine.


What makes this coin particularly interesting, from a technical point of view, is the tiny grain of platinum on the helmet of Athena. Platinum is a common accompanying mineral in Central European alluvial gold, and the tiny impurity thus indicates where the metal came from in the first place.